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Mistory... 










A Short History 

...OF THE... 

SOLDIER-LIFE, 
CAPTURE AND DEATH 

...OF... 

William Francis Corbin, 



Captain Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, 
C. S. A. 











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^O REPEOPLE the halls of memory with the forms and 
voices of our beloved dead, is a sacred duty. We love to 
remember them as they -were in the bloom and beauty of 
vigorous life, and not as they went down into the gloom 
and shadow of death ; but they w^ent not alw^ays dow^n into 
the gloom and shadow. Often — and it is sw^eet to remem- 
ber them so — they mounted into the glorious sunlight of 
God's eternal love, and then the injustice, cruelty and per- 
secution of men paled before the blazing triumph of eternal 
goodness. Such w^as the going away of the subject of this 
writing. He became a child of light, and dw^ells in never 
ending joy. v?* ^ ^ ^ ,^ -^ ,^^t ^ 



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t6 '08 o 



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lOilliam 3'rancis Corbin. 



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COPYRIGHT. 1897, BY 
J. C. DEMOSS. 






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" Whatever my fate, 
I am no changeling 'tis too late: 
The reed in storms may bow and quiver, 
Then rise again ; the tree must shiver." — Byron- 

"Tired, he sleeps, and life's poor play is o'er." — Pope. 



Newport, Ky., Jan. 15, 1897. 

MISS MELISSA CHALFANT CORBIN, 
Midway, Ky.: 

In compliance with your request, that I assist you in com- 
piling and presentintr a brief history of the life and character 
of your brother, W. F. Corbin, 1 have decided to furnish you 
with the foUoy/ing article which 1 wrote some time since by 
request, but which was noi; used as intended at the time, and 
which, 1 trust, will serve your purpose. I understand that you 
desire, more especially, a history of that part of his life coupled 
with his career as a Confederate soldier, his capture by the 
Federal army, his trial by court-martial procedure, resulting in 
his being condemned to be shot on Johnson's Island, and my 
connection with the affair. Truly yours, 

J. C. DeMOSS. 



The subject of this article, William Francis Corbin, was 
born on a farm in Campbell County, Kentucky, near the village 
of Carthage, in the year 1833. 

It is not the purpose of the writer of this sketch, to deal 
with his private or citizen life, so much as with his life as a Con- 
federate soldier; and in order that a better understanding may 
be had as to the incentives and motives which actuated and 



largely controlled him in casting his lot with the South in the 
Civil War, I will recite some incidents in his lite with which 
I was connected and familiar, beginning with i860. 

In the summer of that year, 1 conceived the idea of raising 
an independent military company, which idea I put into execu- 
tion soon afterward, by enlisting sixty young men from the 
eastern part of Campbell County. These were of the best 
young men, aiid from some of the oldest families in the county. 
The company was properly organized, aiid an election of officers 
duly held. The writer of this sketch was elected captain, and 
Wm. F. Corbin, first lieutenant. 

A short time after the organization of the company, it was 
decided to make application to the state authorities at Frank- 
fort, for arms and equipments and to be admitted, under the 
law, as a company of state guards. 

Hon. Beriah Magoffin was governor at the time, and Gen- 
eral Simon Bolivar Buckner was commander of the state forces. 

This application was granted, and in due time my com- 
mission as captain and Corbin's as lieutenant, were received, 
together with guns and equipments, and the necessary bonds 
for the use and return of the same to the state when called for, 
being executed, the companv was recognized as a part of the 
state militia. 

The company proceeded to uniform itself in the regulation 
gray, and after a few months of drilling, made a very present- 
able appearance, and became a source of pride, not only to the 
boys themselves, but to the citizens generally. 

In order to appreciate this, you must bear in mind, that in 
those ante-bellum days, military companies were very scarce, 
and were considered by the people to be very attractive, and 
hundreds were gathered on drill days, to watch the evolutions 
in movement and the manual of arms. Thus matters went on 
for more than a year. 

After the war, military companies were not so much of an 
attraction, and ceased to be paraded simply for display, for the 
stern realities of war had wrought a wonderful change in the 
mind of the average citizen, and they preferred to gaze on 
scenes of a more peaceful nature, less remindful of the awful 
carnage resulting therefrom. 



(, 



Sometime duriii.o; the summer of 1862, my company was 
called into camp, at Camp Garnett, near Cynthiana, for state 
drill, where, with other companies of the Guards, a week was 
spent in military instruction. 

At this time the state had assumed the attitude of "armed 
neutrality," /. f., that neither the Union army, nor the Con- 
federate army should occupy her soil as battleground, nor for 
the purpose of quartering troops within her borders. It is need- 
Jess to say, at this time, that this position was of short duration, 
and that it was not respected by either of the contending armies, 
and when "Uncle Sam" found it necessary to come over and 
invade the sacred soil of the "Blue Grass" state, he did so 
without asking permission. 

It was during the encampment above referred to, that the 
chivalric spirit seemed to take hold of Corbin; in fact, it seemed 
to take possession of almost the entire camp, and there was no 
disguising the fact that the sympathies of the men were almost 
unanimously with the Southern cause, as the question of going 
directly from camp to join the Confederate army, was discussed 
freely, and several of the companies followed their inclinations. 
I prevailed on my company to return and deliver their 
arms to the state authorities, and thus relieve me of the embar- 
rassment of forfeiting my bond to the state, for the faithful 
execution of the law. 

About this time. General Kirby Smith, of the Confederate 
army, made his appearance in the northern part of the state, 
and was approaching Covington and Newport with a formidable 
force, and to checkmate this movement, the commanding Federal 
general ordered all available men, both military and civilian, 
to report for duty, to work in the trenches, and throw up breast- 
works for the protection of those cities. By this time it became 
necessary for every one subject to militar\' dut\- to show his 
colors, by either obeying this order or by following his convic- 
tions to join the Southern cause. Corbin, and about twent\- 
five other men, chose the latter course, and made their way 
through the Federal lines to Paris, where on the 25th day of 
September, 1862, the\' were regularl\- sworn in as soldiers in 
the Confederate army, joining Captain Tom Moore's company, 
Fourth Kentuckv Cavalrv. 



Corbiii was immediatelx- commissioned as captain, but with- 
out a command. He spent the winter of 1862-63 ^^'th Captain 
Moore's company, in the mountains of Virginia. Durin^; this 
time but little worthy of note occurred, and early in March, 
1863, Captain C<jrbin was detailed to return to Kentucky to 
raise a company, and after spendinsj; some weeks in Campbell 
and adjoining counties, and meeting with fairly good success, he 
started back to join his command \yith his recruits. 

While on his way out, he was captured at the house of a 
man named Garrett Daniel, near Rouse's Mill, in Pendleton 
county, on the night of April 8, 1863. There was with him at 
the time, a comrade, Jefferson McGravv by name, who had for- 
merly lived in Campbell county, and who had come into tlie 
state with him. He was also captured. From a reliable source, 
I understand that the arrangement between Corbin and McGraw 
was, that they should meet at Daniel's house on the night of 
the capture, and that Corbin and his recruits arrived on time. 
After waiting some little while for McGraw, and fearing that 
something had happened to him, he started his men on, in tiie 
direction of Paris, preferring to wait alone. Simultaneous with 
McGraw's arrival, the soldiers appeared, and surrounding the 
the house, made the capture. Thus it appears that Captain 
Corbin, in the kindness of his heart, rather than desert a friend, 
took the chances of being captured and of suffering the penalty, 
whatever that might be. 

1 tak'e the following extract from the Cincinnati Conuiicirial 
of April 13, 1863, "Lieutenant Rick'ison, of the ii8th Ohio 
Regiment, with a squad of thirteen men, captured Jefferson 
McGraw and another man, in the neighborhood of Rouse's Mill, 
on Wednesday evening last (which would be April 8). These 
men were sent under guard to DeMossville." It also appears 
from this article, that this squad of soldiers had been sent 
out from DeMossville, on the K. C. R. R., to reconnoiter the 
country around Gubser's Mill, with the view of capturing 
James Caldwell, a Confederate reci'uiting officer, who was 
supposed to be in that neighborhood. While on this expedi- 
tion, by some means unl<nown to the writer, they got on the 
track' of Corbin and McGraw, and traced them to the Daniel's 
home. 



From the time of the capture until tlie trial, the interests 
of the prisoners were in the hands of a number of staunch Union 
citizens, who were personally acquainted with them, and fam- 
iliar with all the circumstances attending their war record, arrest 
and imprisonment. These gentlemen gave the assurance to the 
family and friends that they would be treated as prisoners of 
war, and either imprisoned or exchanged, which was all that 
could be expected and which result was confidently anticipated. 
These friends were no doubt sincere in their assurances, but when 
on May 5th it was given out that W. F. Corbin and Jefferson 
McGraw had been tried by court-martial and sentenced to be 
shot on Johnson's Island, ten days later, the startling announce- 
ment cast a gloom over the entire community, regardless of 
political or war differences, and the effect can better be imagined 
than described. The matter had now assumed a more serious 
aspect, and had been taken out of the realm of speculation and 
become one of reality. 

It was claimed at the time, that Corbin and McGraw were 
subject t(j an order issued by General Burnside (then com- 
mander of the Union forces with headquarters at Cincinnati), 
known as Order No. 38. 

There was a difference of opinion at the time, among those 
in position to judge, as to whether this order would apply to the 
cases of Corbin and McGraw, and this difference still exists, 
and in order that a more intelligent opinion may be arrived at 
by the reader, 1 insert a copy of the order. 



Headquarters Department of the Ohio. 



Cincinnati, C, April 13, 1863. 
GENERAL ORDER No. 38. 

The Commanding General publishes for the information of all con- 
cerned, that hereafter all persons found within our lines who commit acts 
for the benefit of enemies of our country, will be tried as spies or traitors, 
and if convicted will suffer death. 

This order includes the following class of persons : 

Carriers of secret mails. 

Writers of letters sent by secret mails. 

Secret recruiting officers within our lines. 

Persons who have entered into an agreement to pass our lines for the 
purpose of joining the enemy. 



Persons found concealed within our lines belonging to the service of 
the enemy, and in fact all persons found improperly within our lines who 
could give information to the enemy. 

All persons within our lines who harbor, protect, conceal, feed, clothe 
or in any way aid the enemies of our country. The habit of declaring sym- 
pathy for the enemy will no longer be tolerated in this department ; persons 
committing such offenses will be at once arrested with a view to being tried 
as above stated, or sent beyond our lines into the lines of their friends. 

It must be distinctly understood that treason expressed or implied, 
will not be tolerated in this department. 

All officers and soldiers are strictly charged with the execution of 
this order. Bv command of 

Major General A. E. BURNSIDE. 
LEWIS RICHMOND, Ass't Adj't General. 

Official. D. K. LARNED, Capt. and A. A. G. 



It appears from these dates that this order was issued 
April 1 3, and the men were captured April 9,fourda\'S previous 
to the date of tlie order. 

It is not the disposition of the writer to criticise at this late 
day, nor to enter into any discussion on the question of the 
legality of this order, but he is clearly of the opinion that Cor- 
bin and McGraw should liave been treated as prisoners of war 
and subject to exchange or imprisonment, and this opinion is 
supported by the fact that no other prisoners were executed 
under this order, althougli a number had been sentenced. If the 
order was not abrogated, its enforcement was certainly sus- 
pended. After an example had been made of these men and the 
news had been borne to the Confederacy, 1 am reliably informed 
by a gentleman who served as captain in the Confederate army, 
that a lik'e number of Union prisoners were shot in retaliation 
and that correspondence was entered into between the two 
governments, looking to cessation of these acts and to establish 
the understanding that the war be conducted on a more humane 
basis, which correspondence, as my informant stated, resulted 
in accomplishing this end. 

As it is the aim of the writer to give the facts connected 
with the histor\- of the prisoners, so far as he knows, or has 
been able to ascertain them, rather than to deal in speculative 
expressions, he has decided to insert the proceedings of the 
Commission, its findings, and the several orders, under which 
the prisoners were tried, con\'icted and executed, 

111 



Proceedings of a Militarv Commission convened at Cincinnati, Oiiio, 
April 22, 1863 : 

Case of WILLIAM F, CORBIN, C. S. A. 
Brig. Gen. Potter, President. Captain Cutts, Judge Advocate. 



GENERAL Order 115, a. G. O. 1865, 

Judge Advocate General's Oftice, 
May 4, 1863. 
I have examined the within record and find the proceedings regular 
and the proof of the prisoner's guilt complete. 

J. Holt, Judge-Advocate (jeneral. 



Proceedings of a Military Commission convened at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
by virtue of the following order : 

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. 



Cincinnati, Ohio, April 21, 1863. 

Special Orders, No. 135. 

4. A Military Commission is hereby appointed to meet at Cincinnati, 
Ohio, at 10 o'clock a. m., on Wednesday, the 22nd inst., or as soon there- 
after as practicable, for the trial of such prisoners as mav be brought 
before it. 

Detail for the Commission : 

1. Brig. Gen. R. B. Potter, U. S. Vols. 

2. Lieut. Col. E. R. Goodrich, U. S. Vols. 

3. Major J. L. Van Buren, A. D. C. 

4. Major J. M. Brown, loth Kentucky Cav. 

5. Major R. M. Corwine, A. D. C. 

6. Major A. H. Fitch, 115th Ohio Vols. 

7. Captain E. Gay, 16th U. S. Infantry. 

8. Captain P. M. Leidig, A. D. C. 

9. Captain W. H. French, C. S. U. S. Vols. 

Captain J. M. Cutts. nth U. S. Infantry, is appointed Judge Ad- 
vocate. 

By order of Major General Burnside, 

(Signed) W. P. Anderson, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 

FIRST DAY. 
Cincinnati, Ohio, Wednesday, April 22, 1863. 

The Commission met pursuant to the foregoing order. 

Present: Brigadier General R. B. Potter, Lieutenant-Colonel E. R. 
Goodrich, Majors J. L. Van Buren, J. M. Brown, A. H. Fitch, Captains 
P. M. Lydig, W. H. French and the Judge Advocate. 

The Commission then proceeded to the trial of William F. Corbin, 
now, or late, of the so-called Confederate army, who, being called into 
court, and having heard the order read, was asked if he had any objection 
to any member named therein, to which he replied in the negative. 

The Commission was then duly sworn by the Judge Advocate, and 
the Judge Advocate was sworn by the President in the presence of the 
accused, and William F. Corbin, now, or late, of the so-called Confederate 
army, was arraigned on the following charges and specifications : 



CHARGE FIRST. 

Recruiting men within the lines of the United States forces, for the 
so-called Confederate army. 

SPECIFICATION. 

in this, that the said William F. Corbin, on or about April 9. 1863, was 
arrested within our lines, near Rouse's Mills, Pendleton county, Kentucky, 
acting under a recruiting commission from one H. Marshall, a brigadier 
general of the so-called Confederate States army, empowering him to raise 
recruits for the said army, the said Corbin being at the time in charge of a 
number of recruits whom he was seeking to conduct to the said army. 

CHARGE SECOND. 

Being the carrier of mails, communications and information from 
within our lines to persons in arms against the government. 

SPECIFICATION. 

in this, that on or about the gth day of April, 1863, at or near Rouse's 
Mills, Pendleton county, Kentucky, the said William F. Corbin, now, or 
late, of the so-called Confederate army, was arrested engaged in carrying 
mails and information from within the lines of the United States forces to 
persons in arms against the government. 

To all of which charges and specifications the prisoner pleaded as fol- 
lows : " Not guilty." 

All persons required to give evidence were directed to withdraw and 
remain in waiting until called for. 



Captain Edgar Sowers, iiSth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a 
witness for the prosecution, being duly sworn, testified as follows : 

./. A. Q. What is your rank and regiment? 

.1. Captain iiSth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 

(i. Were you present at an examination of the accused made after 
his arrest? 

A. 1 was. I questioned the accused myself on the day of his arrest. 

Q. Did he state that he was engaged in the Confederate service : 
how, and in what capacity? 

A. He said he was a soldier in the rebel army, whether private or 
officer, he did not state; stated that he had been engaged eight months; 
he did not particularize as to how he was engaged. He spoke generally. 

Q. Did he make any statements as to his having been engaged in 
recruiting for the so-called Confederate army? 

.4. Yes. He stated that he was then, or had been, engaged in 
recruiting, just previous to his capture— in Campbell county and Pendleton 
county, hut chiefly in Campbell. 

<l Did he make any statements relative to his carrying mails or any 
other information to those in arms against the government? 

A. He made no statements to me on that subject. 



Lieutenant S. A. Nickerson, ii8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a wit- 
ness for the prosecution, being duly sworn, testified as follows: 

./. A. Q. What is your rank and regiment? 

A. Second lieutenant, ii8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 

Q. Were you in command of the detachment which arrested 
the accused? 

A. Yes. 



Q. State where and when the arrest was made? 

.1. It was in the edge of Pendleton county, Kentucky, on what is 
called the "Washington Trace," on the morning of the gth of April, near 
Ellis Cross Roads and also near Rouse's Mills, between two and three 
o'clock in the morning. 

Q. What was the accused then doing, and who were with him ? 

A. He was then by himself. He had left the main road and was in 
a house, or had been. When he saw the squad coming up he left the house 
and started away. I sent some three or four men around the rear who 
arrested him. He was armed with a Colt's revolver and a large butcher's 
knife something like a corn cutter. 

Q. Did he make any statements as to his character or business? 

.1. Not to me. When he was brought up to two other prisoners 
whom I had arrested, he recognized them. Corbin made an effort to shake 
hands with oneof them, who said, "He guessed not, as his hands were tied." 

Q- Were any papers found in his possession? 
A. The only paper 1 found in his possession was a commission from 
one Humphrey Marshall, and also a blank book with a blank form of oath 
in it, and a list— supposed to be a list of recruits. His name, W. F. Corbin, 
Recruiting Sergeant, was signed in the book, at the close of the blank 
oath and signed W. F. Corbin, in another place. 

The Judge Advocate showed the commission referred to, to the wit- 
ness and appended to this record, marked "A." 

Q. Do you recognize this paper as the commission you referred to? 

A. Yes. 1 recognize it as the paper itself. It is what I' understand 
to be a recruiting commission, authorizing election of officers when a certain 
number of men were recruited. 

No cross-examination. 

Private F. M. Stockdale, Company 1, nSth Regiment Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, being duly sworn, testified as follows: 

./. A. Q. What is your name, rank and regiment? 

A. F. M. Stockdale, private. Company I, ii8th Ohio Volunteers. 

Q. Were you present when the accused was arrested ? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Who were with him, and in what business was he then engaged? 

A. He was by himself, when we got him, at a house. He started 
away when we came on to him. I suppose he was recruiting. He said so 
in my presence and in that of Orderly Campbell who was along. He had 
no recruits with him at the time. I suppose he was just gathering them up. 

Q. Have you any reason to believe there were other men in the 
neighborhood ? 

A. Yes. Because we caught more besides him. Those who were 
caught said there were more. That if they had been all together, they 
would have g*ven us a pretty tight rub. 1 told them 1 wished they had 
been all together. 

Q. Was there any tight or skirmish uith any body of men in that 
neighborhood soon afterwards? 

A. Yes. The next day. There were about twelve or thirteen, one 
of whom was killed, two others wounded, who got off; none captured. 

Q. Did the accused make any statement to you relative to his carry- 
ing mails or other information? 
A. No, 1 don't think he did. 

Q. Do you know whether he did carry such mails ? 
.1. 1 suppose he did. He liad some letters ; he put them in the fire ; 
I saw him: there were two or three. This was in the morning, about 
breakfast time ; it was after daylight. 



Cross-examined by the accused. 

I'rhoner (/. Was it me. or some of tlie otlier men wlio made tlie 
remark "'tliat if we had been together, we could iiave whipped you?" 

A. I thinlx it was you and McGraw, both together, who made the 
remarl\. I won't say positively which one. 



Sergeant Penlo, Company B. nSth Regiment Ohio Volunteer hifrmtry, 
being duly sworn, testified as follows : 

./. .1. (J. What is your rank and regiment? 

.1. Sergeant, Company B. ii8th Ohio Volunteers. 

V- Were you present when the accused was arrested? 

.1. I was not. 1 was not present until he was brought to headquar- 
ters to the provost marshal's oftke, at Cynthiana, Ky. 

V- Did you hear him make any admissions relative to the business 
in which he had been engaged? 

.1- He said he had been recruiting for the rebel army, and it was 
the fifth or sixth trip he had made into the state. He said he had been very 
successful. He said they had something like twenty and they would not 
catch the others— they were too far gone; that they, meaning the United 
States troops, had only caught three. 

(/. In conversation, did he make any statement showing his char- 
acter as one engaged in arms against the government? (The Judge Advo- 
cate stated that he offered this question to show that the accused was a 
rebel emissary. ) 

.1. He said he had been through the state before, and was one of the 
men that helped to burn the bridges on the Kentucky Central Railroad. 
He also said he had had a chance to burn the bridge at Berry Station " and 
was d — d sorry he had not done it." 

Cross-examination. 

I'r'mnier (} Did i say that 1 had made five or six trips into Kentucky? 

A. You did. 

Q. Did I say that 1 helped to burn the bridges on the Kentucky Cen- 
tral Railroad ? 

A. You did. 

V- Did 1 s;iy " 1 was d— d sorry I had not burned the bridge at 
Berry Station ? '' 

A. Yes. or words to that effect. 

The accused having no defense or statements to make, the Commis- 
sion cleared for deliberation. 

The Commission having maturely weighed and considered the evi- 
dence adduced, thid the accused, William F. Corbin. of the so-called Con- 
federate army, as follows : 

Of the Specification, First Charge: "Guiltv." 

Of the First Charge : " Guiltv." 

Of the Specification, Second Charge: "Guilty." 

Of the Second Charge: "'Guilty." 

And the Commission do therefore sentence him. the said William F. 
Corbin, now, or late, of the so-called Confederate army, 

"To be shot unto death, at such time and place as the Com- 
manding General shall direct." 
Two-thirds of the members of the Commission concurring in the sentence. 

Robert B. Potter, . 
J. M. Cutts. Brigadier General Volunteers. 

Captain nth Infantry. President. 

Judge Advocate. 



r 



The proceedings, finding and sentence in tiie foregoing case are ap- 
proved and confirmed. The prisoner, William F. Corbin, now, or late, of 
the so-called Confederate army, will be sent in irons by the proper officer 
and delivered into the custody of the commanding officer on Johnson's 
Island, depot of prisoners of war, near Sandusky. Ohio. 

The commanding officer at that post will see that the sentence is duly 
executed at that post, between the hours of 12 o'clock noon and 3 o'clock 
p. m.. of Friday, May 15, 1863. Subject to the approval of the President 
of the United States. 

A. E. Rurnside. Major General. 

The foregoing sentence approved : 
May 4, 1863. A. Lincoln. 



k. 



"A." 

By virtue of authority vested in me by the Confederate States of 
America, 1 authorize William F. Corbin to raise and muster into the service 
of the Confederate States, for my command, a company of mounted men, 
or a less number, to be attached to the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, com- 
manded by Col. Henry L Giltner. When such company numbers fifty- 
four, rank and file, it may organize by the election of officers and after- 
wards be expanded to one hundred, rank and file. 

When the muster roll of said company, properly signed and certified, 
is presented to me, I will cause the sum of fifty dollars ($50) to be paid to 
each man as bounty money. 

Over the signature of each man must appear a certificate that he is 
free from any disease of a constitutional character and enters the service of 
the Confederate States for three years, or during the war. When this 
muster roll, properly signed and certified, is returned to 4he oftice of my 
adjutant general, the officers and men of the new company will be recog- 
nized, and not till then. Signed. 

H. Marshall. Br. Gen. P. A. C S. 
Official. Guerrant, A. A. G. 

[Will. F. Corbin's Authority.] 



McGraw's trial resulted in his being sentenced to death with Corbii 



Wht-n the startiinii; result of this court-martial became 
known to his friends, steps were tak'en to brin,L!; an influence 
to bear on General BnrnsiJe, as well as on President Lincoln, to 
have this sentence commtited from the death penalty to impris- 
onment for life, or a shorter term, as miii;ht be most agreeable 
to them. All who k'new Captain Corbin, knew him only to 
love and respect him, however much thev mav have differed 
on the questions involved in the war. The\' knew him to be a 
brave, noble, and generous youn.o; man, enjoyin^Lj; a reputation 
for oood morals and ,Liood citizenship equal to the best. As evi- 
dence of his correct life, 1 .i^ive an extract from an interview 
with Geo. R, Rule, master commissioner of Pendleton county, 
Kentuck'w who was a messmate of W. F. Corbin while in the 



army. Mr. Rule said : " Will Corbin's camp lite was not differ- 
ent from his home life. He was always a Christian gentleman." 
Everybody was his friend, and no wonder when they heard this 
report they were startled beyond measure, and continually 
asked the question, " Is it an offense punishable by death ?" 

After a hurried consultation of the family and friends, it 
was decided that Miss Melissa Corbin, sister of Captain Corbin, 
should go to Cincinnati and appear before General Burnside and 
make a personal plea, such as only a sister can make to save 
the life of a beloved brother. 

Miss Corbin, accompanied by the writer, on arrival in Cin- 
cinnati, called on the Hon. R. M. Bishop, ex-mayor of the city, 
and explained her mission. Mr. Bishop informed her that he 
had already become familiar with her brother's trouble, and had 
been interesting himself in his behalf, but so far without avail, 
and that he iiitended to continue his best efforts, which he pro 
ceeded to do at once, by going with her to Mr. Nicholas Patter- 
son, a man of wealth, prominent as a business man, President 
of the " Union League" of that citv, and probably wielding a 
greater influence with the Union element than any man in 
the city. 

Mr. Patterson became at once interested in her cause and 
gave every assurance of his heart\' co-operation in the accom- 
plishment of her purpose. 

This article would not be complete without associating the 
name of Mr. James G. Kercheval with it. Mr. Kercheval, a life- 
long friend of the Corbin familv, and at whose hospitable home 
in Cincinnati Miss Corbin was entertained while in the city, 
interested himself in behalf of the prisoners by making daily 
visits to them while in prison, and supplying them with extra 
dishes prepared bv the hands of his estimable wife. 

Although differing from them politically, yet the sympathies 
of Mr. and Mrs. Kercheval knew no bounds, and they manifested 
this s\-mpathv to a good degree in their efforts to comfort and 
console the men in their distress. This was liable to bring upon 
them harsh criticisms, if nothing more serious, from the more 
ultra-Union element, then at fever-heat around headquarters. 
The\' had k'nown William Corbin from his \-outh, and in the 
language of Mrs. Kercheval, as expressed in a recent conx'ersa- 

ic. 



tion when speakinLi; of him, " 1 iiex'tr Icnew ;i truer or nobler 
Christian than he was," and while speakino;, though more than 
a third of a century had passed into the "shadows of the by- 
gone," her e\'es were dimmed with bitter tears excited by mem- 
ories from which she could not be divorced. The noble heart 
of that grand woman beats to-day with earnest sympathy for 
the remaining few of the Corbin famih'. 1 have no language 
a.t m\' command to full\- express the praise due these devoted 
friends. 

Dr. A. S. Dameron and Will Corbin were friends in their 
youth and young manhood, having been reared neighbors. 
When the war came on they drifted apart politically, but lost 
none of their respect for each other on account of this differ 
ence, and when Gus Dameron, as we called him then, heard of 
liis friend's trouble, he was among the first to hunt him up and 
offer his best services to help him out of his dilemma, and if 
success did not crown his efforts, it was no fault of his. 

As has alreadv been said, the trial was over, and sentence 
passed. Miss Corbin was in the city awaiting advice of friends 
as to what she should do. It was decided that she should make 
a personal appeal to General Burnside, in behalf of her brother, 
and that Messrs. Bishop and Patterson, Elder R. Graham, then 
pastor of the Central Christian Church, and Dr. A. S. Dameron, 
should accompany her and give their influence and hearty sup- 
port; which decision was promptly carried into effect. They 
bore with them a petition signed by numerous leading Union 
citizens acquainted with the prisoners, addressed to the Presi- 
dent, urging him to exercise clemency toward them. This 
petition was presented to the General by Mr. Graham, in a 
masterly and heart-moving speech, to which General Burnside 
gave earnest attention. 

Miss Corbin also pleaded for the life of her brother, not 
only with a pathos and deep feeling prompted and inspired by 
the dreadful weight of sorrow pressing upon her in view of the 
impending fate of her brother, but with an intelligence that few- 
women possess, and which should have melted the stoutest 
heart; but all these appeals were in vain. The General's only 
reph' was that he had determined to make an example of these 
men and that the matter was out of his hands, and only the 



President had the power to Liive the relief asked for. hi answer 
to the question, "would he recommend to the President that the 
sentence be commuted to life imprisonment," he said that he 
would not make any recommendations, " but would forward the 
petition to the President, without recommendation." Thus 
ended the interview, and Miss Corbin left with a heavy heart 
and with but little hope of accomplishing an\'thin^. Yet, unwil- 
lin<i; to ^ive up wiiile a spark of hope remained, she obtained 
strong letters of endorsement to the President and other promi- 
nent men in Washington, from Mr. Bishop, Mr. Patterson, 
Elder Robert Graham, and some other influential Union men, 
t^ivinjj; urgent reasons that he ^iive her a hearinj:;, and, armed 
with these letters, she was advised to .ljo to Washin-iton and 
make a personal appeal to the President in behalf of her brother, 
which advice she proceeded to act upon at once, it was urged 
also by her friends that 1 accompanx' her as escort, which 1 
consented to do. 

An incident occurred on our trip which, while not beinu 
directly connected with this history, may be of some interest. 
When our train arrived at Harper's Ferry, several hundred 
soldiers boarded it, bound for Washington, and soon after 
leaving the station they became very boisterous and acted 
like drunken men. They discharged their guns through the 
windows of the coach, cursing, fighting, and using vulgar 
language. 

Miss Corbin, being the only lady passenger in the coach, 
this conduct of the soldiers made it exceedingly embarassing for 
her, and caused me to feel some anxietv for her safety. When 
these riotous demonstrations were at their height, I called 
the conductor's attention to the fact that the lady was en- 
titled to better protection. He replied that he was powerless to 
control the soldiers. Just at this moment a young man, appar- 
entl\- about twent\-five years of age, beardless, of fair com- 
plexion, with a k'een dark' eve, stepped into the coach, and after 
looking around a moment and observing the lady, he ordered four 
of the men sitting nearest us, to be more quiet. They immedi- 
ately turned on him, and 1 realh' feared that his life was in 
danger, as they seemed vei\' much enraged at his interference 
with their affairs. Just as they were about to la\- hands on 



him, he threw hack the hreast of his coat and a silver star 
flashed from its conceahiient. If a flasli of liiilitninLi; from a 
cloudless sky, accompanied bv a bolt of steel, had penetrated 
that car, the effect could not have been more startling. 

The men who but a moment before seemed little less than 
a howling mob of desperadoes, were to all appearances struck 
dumb, and death-like stillness reigned instead. What power 
tliis younu; man had to produce this effect, puzzled me. 1 ven- 
tured to in\ite him to share m\' seat, which he did. I eniia<2:ed 
him in conversation with the view of findinij; out somethin^j; of 
his historw He informed me that he was connected with the 
Army of Tennessee. 1 do not remember in just what particular 
capacitv, or what his official title was, but he gave me founder- 
stand that he was the bearer of important messages from the 
commander of his army, to headquarters at Washington; said 
his name was Ben Abrams, of Clermont county, Ohio. He was 
familiar with the President, and all the leading generals located 
in and about Washington. We explained our mission and he 
became very much interested and offered man\' valuable sugges- 
tions to aid us in attaining our purpose. 

During the remainder of oiu' trip Miss Corbin spent the 
time talking to Abrams about her brother; giving his life and 
connection with Confederacy, his capture, summar\- trial and 
sentence to death, and the feeling of uncertaintx' she entertained 
in accomplishing anything with the President; to all of which 
he listened with the deepest interest and expressed feelings of 
warm S)'mpathv, such expressions as could onh' emanate from 
a brave and generous heart. He said, "I should be so happ\' 
to help you, happy as the hope of heaven could make me." 

Our journey ended we bade our friend good-b_\'e, with the 
understanding that he would see us the next day and let us know 
if he could bring an\' influence to bear in Miss Corbin's behalf. 
According to appointment he met us and said that the man 
(giving his name) who could accomplish more than an\' other, 
could not be reached within the limited time of oiu' sta\' in 
Washington, and thus another disappointment was recorded. 
But the warm attachment foi'med for Ben Abrams, bv both Miss 
Corbin and m_\self, will remain a pleasant memorx' while life 
shall last. 



On arrival at Washiniiton, one Dr. Banjj;s, to whom she 
had a letter from Elder Graham, strongly endorsing and com 
mendinjj; her, together with her mission, to his most kindly 
and earnest consideration, on reading the letter, opened his 
house as well as his heart and gave her a most cordial and hearty 
welcome to his home, introducing her to his wife and family. 
They at once demanded that she mak'e their house her home 
while in Washington, and she, feeling that she had found friends 
indeed, in a strange city, readily yielded to their demands. 

Miss Corbin had also letters to U. S. Marshal Lammon, of 
the District of Columbia, urging his kindly offices in her inter- 
est. It was at Dr. Bangs' home that she was introduced to 
the marshal. He read her letters, listened to her story, and 
expressed himself in full sympathy with her and manifested his 
sincerity by planning for an interview between her and the 
President. He attempted to put this plan into execution by 
accompanying her to the White House. (It might be well to 
say that Marshal Lammon stood closer to the President than any 
man in Washington.) He soon gained an audience with the 
President, explained Miss Corbin's mission and presented her 
cause in the strongest possible language. The President replied 
that he Could not see her, that these appeals were so numerous 
that it became necessary for him to make it a rule for all such 
matters to come to him b\- petition. 

While Marshal Lammon failed to accomplish what he started 
out to do, yet he did not leave her without hope, and suggested 
that she write a statement of her brother's connection with the 
Confederacy, his character, capture, trial, and sentence, and 
make a sister's appeal that his life be spared, and in the mean- 
time he would try to see the President again. 

Miss Corbin acted on this advice and, in the pri\ac\- of her 
room, wrote a letter to the President, which, if it had been read 
by him, might ha\e changed the current of his thoughts. This 
letter was handed to Dr. Sunderland, a minister of the leading 
Presbyterian church in the cit\-, and to whom she had a letter 
of introduction, with the request that lie present it to the Presi- 
dent the following daw Dr. Sunderland occupied the pulpit of 
the church which the President attended, and consequenth' had 
easy access to his presence. At the appointed time he pro- 



d 



ceeded to call on the Piesidfiit, and meetinti him on one of the 
approaches to the White House, stopped him and presented 
the letter, explaining!; its contents, at the same time requestin^f 
him to read and consider it favorably, if he could consistently 
do so. The President stated in my hearini;;, to the Doctor, that 
" he must decline to read the letter ; that these men were bridge- 
burners and bad men and should be punished, and that he could 
not interfere with General Burnside's order." It was evident 
from the President's remarks, that his mind had been strongly 
influenced against the prisoners, by the testimony of one wit- 
ness at the trial, who testified concerning the connection of the 
accused with certain bridoe-burnino;. Subsequent investigation 
proved, beyond a doubt, that Corbin was not in the nei^hbor- 
hood of the locality where the bridj^e was burned, at the time of 
the burning, and so far as 1 have been able to ascertain, by 
careful investigation, he had not fired a gun, nor committed any 
overt act against the United States government, other than 
enlisting in the Confederate army and returning within the 
Federal lines for the purpose of recruiting. In addition to this, 
when we consider his spotless Christian character and pure 
morality, it is impossible to believe that he made use of the 
language attributed to him by the witness, and if such statement 
were made, it must have been by another, and evidently the 
witness was mistaken as to the person who made the alleged 
statement. Be this as it ma_\', the President was firm in his 
position, and finding that nothing more could be acci^mplished, 
Miss Corbin returned to Cincinnati. 

It may seem strange to the reader who did not live during 
these stirring times of civil war, that such appeals and influences 
could not accomplish some favorable results, but in explanation 
of this we can only recall the circumstances then existing. The 
fate of the nation was hanging in the balance ; the victorious 
army of the Confederacy was hovering round the capital, and 
its cannons were tiuindering at the gates. The President, filling 
the dual position of chief executive and commander-in-chief of 
the arm\-, must have been almost overwhelmed by the responsi- 
bility resting upon him. The life of the republic, as well as the 
lives of great armies, were largely in his keeping, and these 
duties far outweighed, in his estimation, any appeal of the 



individual, liovvever meritorious. While these reasons may not 
satisfy our earnest desire tor a recognition of our cause, yet, in 
our calmer moments, will be considered as a palliation, if not 
justification, for the deed. 

On arrival at Cincinnati, and reportinij; the result of her 
interview with the President to Messrs. Bishop and Patterson, 
Graham and Kercheval, also to General Burnside, it was decided 
that I proceed at once to Johnson's Island. As the day set for 
the execution was but two days off, it was necessary to yo 
on the first train. General Burnside yave me a permit to brino; 
the bodies home after the execution, also a letter to the com- 
manding:; officer, to extend to me the privileges of the island and 
to show me every courtesy. 

I arrived at the island on the day before the execution and 
presented my passport and letter to Major Peirson, commanding 
officer, who at once ordered a o;uard to show me the cell where 
Corbin and McGraw were confined. The prison was a common 
soldiers' canvas tent; the furnishings consisted of straw and 
blankets for a bed, and camp stools to sit on. The men were 
chained to a ball which would weii^h about twenty pounds, the 
chain being riveted around one ankle. The guard remained 
during the interview between the prisoners and myself, which, 
of course, prevented that freedom of speech which otherwise 
might have been indulged in. 

I explained to Corbin the efforts that had been made in his 
behalf; told him of the pleadings of his sister before General 
Burnside ; of her trip to Washington to see the President, and 
her treatment at his hands ; of all the influences that had been 
brought to bear on the powers that be, and how they had all 
come to naught. Nothing but failure had marked ever\' effort, 
and the only shadow of hope remaining was that the President 
might delav the execution, or might show clemency in some 
degree. But I gave him no assurance. 

He said he was not disappointed, that he felt from the hur- 
ried manner in which the court-martial was conducted, that he 
was to be made an example of, aiid that he was resigned to his 
fate. After about a half an hour of conversation 1 left them, 
with the under>tanding that 1 would see them again the next 
morning. 1 returned to Sandusk'\- for the night and went over to 



the island eaii\' tlif next morninti;. 1 called on tile major and had 
quite an extended talk witli him, expiaininj^ the history of the 
prisoners, the circumstances of tlieir capture, etc. He said that 
"their behavior while there had completely won his respect and 
sympathy, that there were political prisoners there, under short 
sentences, wiic^m he would rather see shot than these men, and 
that he still hoped to hear from Washington some word relieving 
him of the unpleasant duty before liim." 

He said that he would not execute the order until the last 
moment. The earnestness manifested in his kindly expressions, 
satisfied me that he was sincere in all he said. Continuing, he 
said that there would be two firing squads of twelve men each, 
one empty gun in each squad — this simply that each soldier 
might feel that he held that gun ; each gun was to be loaded 
with twelve buckshot and one minnie ball. He said that the 
soldiers had all formed a friendship for the prisoners and their 
sympathies were strongly with them, and he feared that they 
might aim to miss, rather than kill, but that he had instructed 
the soldiers to take deadly aim at the heart. He did this as a 
matter of mercy to the prisoners, for if they only wounded them 
it would be merely to reload and fire again, thus continuing the 
torture of the men, and besides, anv of them found shrinking 
from duty, would be punished. 

There was a small chapel standing at the northern extremity 
of the court, where the prisoners were permitted to meet and 
engage in religious worship, one hour every day, at ten o'clock. 
On this day a number of prisoners, among them Corbin and 
McGraw, assembled in the chapel. There were also present 
several ot^k'ers and their wives. The service was led by Cap- 
tain Corbin. It consisted of Scripture reading, short talks, 
singing and prayers. Many of those present took' part, but the 
leader occupied most of the time. He had been accustomed to 
do this before he joined the arm\-, he being an elder in the 
Christian church at California, a little town in his native countv. 

That scene, and the words which fell from his lips on that 
occasion, are indelibly stamped on mv memorv. Although more 
than thirt\'-four \'ears have passed since then, yet, as 1 write 
these words, all the scenes enacted on that eventful da\', are as 
fresh in m\' mind as though the\' had occurred but vesterday. 



After readinij; and prayer by Captain Corbin, he said, in 
part, speaking of himself, that " life was just as sweet to him 
as any man, but if necessary for him to die in order to vindicate 
the law of the country, he was ready to die, he did not fear 
death ; he had done nothing he was ashamed of ; he had acted 
on his own convictions and was not sorry for what he had done ; 
he was fighting for a principle, which in the sight of God and 
man, and in the view of death which awaited him, he believed 
was right, and feeling this he had nothing to fear in the future." 
He closed his talk by expressing his faith in the promises of 
Christ and his religion. 

To see this man, standing in the presence of an audience 
composed of officers, privates, and prisoners of all grades, chained 
to and bearing his ball, and bearing it alone, presenting the 
religion of Christ to others while exemplifving it himself, was a 
scene which would melt the strongest heart, and when he took 
his seat every heart in that audience was softened and every 
eye bathed in tears. After the service the Major asked me to 
dine with him, which invitation 1 accepted. 

While the meal was sumptuous, and the service elegant, but 
little of the food was consumed. The host and hostess, as well 
as the guest, were too full of solemn thoughts suggested by the 
events of the day. Mrs. Pierson was so much affected b\' the 
thoughts of the scene soon to be enacted, that she seemed to be 
overcome with sorrowful emotions. She said that Mr. Corbin's 
conduct since he had been there, had been such as to win her full 
svmpathv and respect, and she could not bear the thought of his 
being shot and prayed that he might \'et be spared so sad a fate. 

Dinner over, 1 went to make my last call on Corbin and 
McGraw. During this interview, Corbin sent messages of love 
to his mother, brothers, sister and friends in Kentuck'v, request- 
ing that they be reconciled and bear up under the weight of sor- 
row, with Christian fortitude and courage. He handed me a 
well-worn pair of gloves, saving, "This is all I have to give. 
Take them to remember me by." McGraw gave me the same 
charges to be delivered to his old mother and friends and handed 
me a handkerchief, with the request that 1 keep it in remem- 
brance of him. The interview ended, 1 bade them a last good- 
by and left them to their own silent meditations. 



1 have in my possession a letter w ritten hy HIder Robert 
Graham, of the Christian church, under date of May n, to W. 
F Corhin, tiien prisoner on Johnson's Island, two days before 
the execution ; also two letters from W. F. Corbin, one bearing 
date May ii, four days before his death, and one bearinu date 
May 14, ,jne day before his death, both written on Johnson's 
Island, addressed to his mother, brother, and sister; also a 
letter from Miss Melissa Corbin, to her friend, Mrs. Ke'rcheval, 
of date Ma\' 18, three da\s after her brother's death, and onJ 
day after his bur-ial. 

These letters so well and beautifully express the emotions 
and experiences, not onl\- of the autho'r, but of many of the 
relations and friends then livin.u, and some are vet living, whose 
feelings will respond to these sentiments, that I think irwill be 
no breach of confidence to insert them here as written, believ- 
in.Li as he does, that the>' will be read with more than' passing 
interest, by the friends. 



.\tR. W. F. CORBIN. Cincinnati. O., May ,3, .86}. 

Dear jiid Afflicted -Brotlwr : 

At the request of your sorrowing sister, and moved bv niv 

m-oh-Slil" r^';,' rll"^'''^ ^';'-^ '"-^"^'"g to^ommune with you fn M 
pmbability for the last time on tins earth. It is with deep sympatliy in your 
aftl.ct.on and hat of your dear mother and sister, that 1 endeavor to d [his 
To contemplate death at any time is solemn, and uell calculated to awe he 
human soul ; but ,n a case like this, ue feel all our pity awakened d our 
sympathy called torth would I had the power to describe the teeings 
your tamily and tnends, in view of the approaching end '^''""Ss 

mothJr''-'.!n'St''f-^''i^^^''-'''''f'''" to assure you that neither she nor your 
mother can attach ignominy to your memory ; though you die a violent 

^n e tW inif ■' '" '■'^"!'''^ ^7- V^^ '^'^^^•^ "f the country, they can make^ llow- 

..nce toi inf uences under uhich you acted with others, xvho knou- you not, 

can not make. She requested me to inform you what efforts had been made 

by he. and your friends to obtain a ."eprieve or commutation of your pen- 

f mm thT h'^^VVV ^'.-P^Moss got here (.n the day you uere' removed 

r intervtu" """^ "" -nterview with them and related the substance of 

I is sore S-ti n'''" '"'"■'■' ^?,"' 't ^"^"^ ^'^ ^'" P'^^'^"'-^ to know that in 

elision I S ^ ' ."■'■'h-' t'^t 'i"'"^'^''t-^ '-'nd consolations of our holy 

eiigion. I told your sister the substance ot what you said to me during our 

nte.-v.exv; it was a cordial to her wounded spirit to be assured Zwoud 

meet you." end prepared tor the solemn change, and in blessed hone tlr 

through the mercy of God in Christ, vou willlttain the crmn'if eteTnaf lite! 

Ri«h,r;-. ^^''^'"'''^^^'^/?,^' ^^^' ^"'''"-^ your confuiement here. Brother 
Bishop, tormeriy mayor of this city, Mr. DeMoss, vour devoted fr end nd 
myself, had an interview- ^^■ith (General Burnside. and p.-esented a peti n 

unn-"' ^4:tfA^'.?"ed by some of the most intluenti?,l citizens of ^n 
uHintv. The General treated us very kindlv and heard all vve had to say. 



He assured us it would be one of the li;ippiest acts of his life to recommend 
you and Brother McGraw to the clemency of the President, if he could do 
so consistently with his views of duty in the responsible position he now 
fills. We were all deeply impressed with General Burnside's goodness of 
heart and his sincerity. He kindly offered to send the petition to the Presi- 
dent. We had a copy made and gave the original to General Burnside, to 
be sent on to Washington. Mr. DeMoss and your sister went on immedi- 
ately to Washington and used all their power and the influence of friends, 
enlisted in your behalf, to get the President to commute your sentence. 
They returned day before yesterday, and yesterday morning vour sister had 
an interview with General Burnside, who has given your sister and your 
friends permission to see you before Friday. Before this reaches you, some 
of your friends will have seen you and told you all. 1 will only add, while 
on this point, that all praise is due to your devoted friend, Mr. DeMoss. for 
his untiring labors for your pardon ; had you been his own brother, he could 
not have done more. I need not say that your sister has done all that a de- 
voted sister could do for you. Let these reflections cheer vou in this dark 
hour; your grave shall be wet with tears, and fervent prayers shall go up 
to our God in heaven that your faith fail not. 

And now, my dear brother, let me point you to the " Lamb of God," 
who alone can pardon your sins and sustain you in death. Betrayed in an 
evil hour, and 1 would fain hope without reflection, into hostility, to the gov- 
ernment of our fathers, I devoutly pray that, having seen your error, and 
made full confession to your God, and with a conscience at peace with your 
Maker and fel!o\\-men, vou are now prepared to bid farewell to the shadows 
of e;trth. to enter upon the glorious realities of the future world. Read this 
letter to Brother McGraw. Though w ritten to you, it is to him also. Fare- 
well, brethren, may the God of all mercy and grace, who alone can know 
our hearts, and before whom we all shall soon appear, comfort, console, and 
support you, and at last receive you both to the world of life and peace, 
where the redeemed of the Lord shall dwell secure forever. We cease not 
to pray for you, and oh, my brethren, cast all your care on Jesus. Again. 
farewell ! in tears, but in hope and love. Farewell ! 

ROBERT GRAHAM. 



\_Froni IV. F. Corbiii.'\ 



May II. 1863. 
Dear r'Motber, Brother, and Sister : 

I w^rite this to let you know how I am. I am well, but have gi\en 
up nearly all hope of being pardoned. I trust in God that he, through Jesus 
Christ, will save me in His kingdom. I have been made to rejoice in His 
name even in prison. O Mother ! If I could live for your sake, and to serve 
my Savior, how happy I would be ; but we must all die, and I am resigned. 
Let us put our trust in God, and we will soon meet where there is no more 
parting, no more sorrow. God being my helper, I will meet you all in 
heaven. Sorrow not as those who have no hope; we will meet again. We 
pray and sing day and night. 

My dear brother, serve God. Let the world go, and prepare for heaven ; 
put your trust in Him, and He will save you. 

Dear sister, continue in the Lord. Sorrow not for me : God is with 
me. Meet me in heaven. Give my love to the children and all my friends. 
Remember me to Gus. Dameron for his kindness to me. May God bless 
him. and may he bless and keep you all. is the praver of your loving son 
and brother. Farewell! till we meet in heaven. 

W. F. CORBIN. 



May 14, 1863. 

To my Dear Motlwr. Brother, and Sister: 

This is the last w ritiiig I ever expect to do in the world, therefore 
I address it to you all. ! know you are all praying for me, but when you 
get this I will be no more. I hope to be with the blessed; with my dear 
brother, and all who have gone before. Oh I do not weep for me. O Ma, 
we will meet in heaven, where we will sorrow no more. God will in nowise 
cast off those who put their trust in Him. I have thrown myself upon His 
mercy and have prayed Him, through Jesus Christ, to forgive all my sins. 
"A contrite spirit and broken heart He will in nowise cast off." He has 
been very precious to me in my lonely hours; He will be more precious to 
me in heaven. Oh ! may you all continue faithful, and may God grant we 
may meet in heaven, where there will be no more wars, no more crying, 
sighing, sorrows nor fears, but where the wicked cease from troubling, and 
the weary are at rest. Give my dying love to all and, oh, tell them to meet 
me in my Father's house, where there are many mansions prepared for us. 
Oh! may God bless you all and at \-a<<X save us all in His kingdom, is the 
prayer of your ever loving son and brother, WILL. 



[From (Miss Corbiii to d\4rs. Kerelieval.] 

California, Kentucky. 
{Mv Dear 3VIrs. Kercheval : 

We have lain him to rest. No longer do dungeon walls enclose 
him, nor cold chains fetter his body. His tried spirit has quit its clay dwell- 
ing and gone, I humbly trust, to the haven of rest. Oh ! Eternal rest, 
eternal life ! May God have called him as a wanderer home. 

With a strength which I did not think I could possess, 1 have borne 
this blow. Surely, 1 received it from heaven ; don't you think so? I have 
realized more fully than ever before, that peace of God, which passeth all 
understanding. Your comforting words 1 shall never forget; through them 
I have greatly strengthened my dear mother. We are at our old home ; we 
thought we would feel better to spend the summer here, than at any other 
place. Every blade of grass, bush and leaf, speak to her of her buried loved 
ones, and of bygone happiness. She lives in the past. 1 feel that I have 
undertaken a great deal. I knovv' not what the summer has in store for me, 
but I trust the Lord will give me strength according to my day and trial. 
Ah me ! what a desolation around ; what a fearful looking for the evil to 
come. O righteous Father! keep us in thy arms; hide us beneath the 
shadow of thy wing while the fearful storm is passing. We have lain him 
beside the gentle boy, who scarce ten months ago, fell sweetly asleep in 
Jesus. How hard to realize that those love-lit eyes are closed forever in 
death; that his sweet "My Sister," uill never fall upon my ears again. 
How strange that 'mid aU the flush of beauty that envelopes earth, only 
man will be miserable; man, for whom all this beauty was created. 

Dear Brother Graham ! What words of comfort has he spoken to me. 
Thank him for me and tell him that I much regret not having seen him on 
board steamer Ma<ri/olia. I remained in the parlor some time, thinking per- 
haps he would come, yet not much expecting that he would walk so far, till, 
heart-sick, I sought my own chamber. Oh ! that lonely ride, with not one 
friend to speak a word of comfort. In vain did I search each face for 
one look of sympathy, and at last reached home to meet, in silence, m/ 
mother's anxious, inquiring looks. Oh! nothing but the mercy of God* 
could enable us to bear this burden. 

J would write a note to Brother Graham, but cannot now. Have just 
received the paper containing his letter to Will. 



I am now surrounded with kind, sympatliizin.y; friends, but iiow lonely 
will I fee! when they have to leave us. I hope you will all continue to write 
when you can ; that will always be a bright day that brings a love-laden 
missive from brethren and sisters in Christ. 

With this I send you a copy of Will's letters. Write soon, and witii 
love to you all, believe me your faithful friend and sister. 

May i8. LICCIE CORBIN. 

Two hotirs after our intt-rvifw, Will Corbin and Jeff Mc- 
Graw, as we familiarly called them, marched out of their cell, 
bearinti their own ball and chains, each surrounded by a sqt.ad 
of twelve soldiers, to the shore of the island, where the blue 
waters of Sandusky Bay washed the o;reen sward on the shore 
— a place suooestive of more pleasant scenes. 

The men were blindfolded, hands tied behind them, and 
seated on their coffins, facing the firing party standing twelve 
paces away. Before leaving them in the cell, they requested 
me to stay with them imtil the last, which 1 promised to do. 

Standing about one hundred feet from them, 1 could dis- 
tinctly hear the command, " one, two, three ! fire!" and the 
deed was done. Corbin and McGraw had paid the penalty, 
with their lives, for deeds which they conscientiously believed 
to be performed for the right. 

The strain was so intense on the nerves of the firing party, 
that one of them, hearing the last word of command, fainted, 
and had to be carried from the scene. 

When the writer pauses and recalls the awful memories of 
that scene, he does not wonder that this man fainted. Neither 
tongue nor pen can describe the feelings of one witnessing his 
lifelong friends shot to death, and far less, under the existing 
circumstances. 

Corbin and McGraw appeared to be less nervous than 
the writer or any of the other spectators. Seated on the heads 
of their coffuis, erect and stead\', not a nun-nun- was heard, nor 
nuiscle moved. I do not think' they suffered. Death was in- 
stantaneous, and they fell back' as gently as though assisted by 
some lox'ing hand. 

The execution took' place May i^, i86^. Afterward the 
bodies were properlv cared for by the soldiers detailed for that 
ptirpose, placed in coffins, and forwarded by express, to their 
homes in Kentuck'y, the government furnishing transportation. 



On my way homt- it was nt-cessary to report to General 
Burnside, at Cincinnati, to secure transportation to Calif(M'nia. 
1 called on Mr. Patterson, who accompanied me. At this inter- 
view some stron^i language was indulged in between the General 
and Mr. Patterson. 1 remember that Mr. Patterson said, among 
other things, "General Burnside, these men were murdered!" 
The General replied, "Mr. Patterson, that is ro//r opinion." 
1 mention this to show the intense interest telt by Mr. Patter- 
son for the dead soldiers, and sympathy tor their friends. 
W Alas! how different were the scenes at the Corbin home 

now, from those of one short year before, when, in the full xigor 
of young manhood, and flushed with visions of military achieve- 
ments and fame to be won on the fields of battle, he bade his 
old mother, his brother and sister, good-bye. Now the same 
form was before them, cold in death. 

On arrival at his old home, and considering the strained 
relations between some of the citizens, it was not thought ad- 
visable to hold regular funeral services, but it was decided to 
^•ia send for old Uncle George Fisher, as he was familiarly called, 

f ) he being one of the pioneers of the Christian reformation, a man 

r full of faith, noted for his purity and godly walk, to conduct a 

short prayer and song service. This was accordingly done, and 
the last sad rites o\'er the remains of Corbin and McGraw were 
performed, and all that was mortal of them was consigned to 
their narrow graves. McGraw was buried in the old Flagg 
Spring churchyard. 

Corbin was laid to rest in the family graveyard, in sight of 

the home where he was born and spent the earlier part of his 

life. A simple slab of granite marks the grave, which serves 

\\ only to perpetuate in the bosom of his friends sad memories of 

fj a sadder fate. His old mother, already bent by the weight of 

}'ears, did not long survix'e this severe ordeal. 

One brother, John H. Corbin, a veteran of the Mexican 
War, still lives at tlie old homestead ; also a sister. Miss Melissa 
Chalfant Corbin, .•o;np;)se the members of the familv now living. 
Miss Corbin is the Principal of the Kentucky Female Orphan 
Sch:)ol, at Midway, Ky., which position she has filled for thirteen 
years, ha\-ing previousK' taught six years in the same scIk^oI. 
Thus, it will be seen, that the best years of her life hav'e been 



devoted to this noble work, and the hi^li standard of the school 
may well be pointed to as evidence of her superior fitness for 
the position. 

The name of W. F. Corbin now forms a part of the liist(jry 
of the " Lost Cause." Honorable mention is made of his name, 
in a boojc, entitled, " Veteran Associations of Kentuck'y." 
1 quote from the constitution of this bo(.)k, to explain its purpose : 
" The object of this association sliall be the cultivation of social 
relations amono; those who were honorably en.^ai^ed in the serv- 
ice of the Confederate States of America ; to preserve the fra- 
ternal ties of comradeship; to pay due respect to the remains 
and to the memory of those who die." 

The association, of which this book' treats, is incorporated 
under the laws of Kentuck"y, and in accordance with its corpo- 
rate powers, numerous Confederate camps have been organized. 
These camps bear the name of some comrade who either fell in 
battle, or has died since the close of the war. One of these 
camps has been organized in Newport, Ky., and bears the name, 
William F. Corbin Camp, No. 683. It was named in honor 
of the subject of this article. 

The fact that Corbin's name was selected from among the 
many noble heroes whose li\'es were given as willing sacrifices 
for the cause thev loved, is a fitting recognition of his stainless 
life and noble character, and is, as it should be, esteemed by his 
family and friends, as a high mark' of the respect in which he 
was held by his comrades. 

In order that this article might be as complete as the limited 
time and data at hand would permit, the writer requested Mr. 
J. G. Kei'cheval and wife to favor him with such information on 
the subject as they might possess, and in compliance with that 
request, they have written short sketches; and owing to their 
long and close acquaintance with W. F. Corbin, as well as his 
famil)' connections, they know whereof they spealc. 

The writer feels very grateful to them for their contribu- 
tions, as will the family and relatives of the dead soldier. 

I insert the articles without chanw. 



i knew William Corbin from childhood. He was a member of one of 
the oldest and most prominent families of Campbell county. He was a 
devout Christian ; a worthy example to all his associates. 



Returning to liis Confederate charge in Virginia, after a visit to his 
home, he \\as caught within the Federal lines, taken as a prisoner, and con- 
demned to be shot on Johnson's Island. 

My home was in Cincinnati at the time, and as soon as he was brought 
to the prison in that city, 1 visited him in company with R. M. Bishop, Mr. 
Patterson and Dr. Dameron. Rev. Robert Graham also visited him fre- 
quently, engaging in religious services, and most impressive was the service 
held just before his departure for Johnson's Island. Many of those hardened 
prisoners, and even the guards, wept. 

According to promise, 1 started for the island, but only reached San- 
dusky, for there I met the ministers returning from the island where they 
had partaken of the Lord's Supper, and this overcame me so much that 1 
returned home, feeling that to see the sufferings of so noble and christian a 
character, as well as so true a friend, was more than 1 could endure. 

Mr. Calvin DeMoss accompanied the remains of William Corbin and 
Jefferson McGraw, his comrade, who was executed with him, on the boat 
Magnolia, to their homes in California, Ky. So great was the respect for 
him whom they had loved, not a loud word was spoken. The bell of the 
boat tolled for miles before they reached the shore of the little town, where 
hundreds awaited in tears and sorrow to receive the remains and convey 
them to the quiet home of his boyhood, where they now rest in the family 
graveyard. And such was the ending of a beautiful Christian life. 

J. G. KERCHEVAL. 



The pure life of William Corbin had its influence on the community 
in which he lived. Though dead, he yet speaks. It is sweet to remember 
his fervent zeal and devotion to the cause of Christ. He was the faithful 
elder of the Christian church at California, Ky. In the dark and trying 
days of our civil war, he never faltered ; but after the toils of the week, 
he would draw the children of the village together, to teach them the way 
of life and salvation, while many of their fathers spent the day in angry 
dissensions. The estrangement between neighbors grieved him. He de- 
plored the war, and said he M'ould never take up arms or leave his mother. 
Those were perilous times. How little we knew what a day might bring 
forth. However, the time came when he believed he must go, and when 
returning to his duty after a short visit to his home, he was caught, taken 
as a prisoner by the Union soldiers, and executed on Johnson's Island. 
Every effort was made to have his sentence removed, but all in vain. His 
aged mother, and his sister, were my guests during his imprisonment in 
Cincinnati, and when the last ray of hope was gone, they bade him fare- 
well just before his departure for Johnson's Island, and returned to their 
quiet home in Kentucky, where his mother only survived him a short time. 

MRS. J. G. KERCHEVAL. 



It has been the earnest desire of the writer of this article 
to be unprejudiced and non-partisan in his expressions, and he 
trusts that he has succeeded. While there is much more that 
might be written, but owing to the meagerness of the records on 
file, and publications at the time, it leaves him without authentic 
data on which to base his statements, and he did not think it 
desirable to enter too fully into details based simply on his own 
recollections. 

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ADDENDA. 



r^ HIEFLY for the sake of the grandchildren of my noble mother. 
^-^ have 1 asked my friend, Mr. DeMoss, to write tiie foregoing 
account of the character and sad fate of my beloved brother, William. 
I want them to know what manner of man he was, to imitate his 
virtues, and to reverence his name on our family records. 

I wanted this sketch for the children of the dear neighbors and 
friends all through our county, some of whom were his classmates at 
Alexandria; some his pupils at California ; some his fellow-laborers 
in the dear little church there, and some his brethren in the masonic 
lodge at Flagg Spring. 

1 wanted this sketch for those gentlemen who have honored his 
name by connecting it with their Confederate camp ; an act that is 
deeply appreciated by his family. 

To Mr. DeMoss, who flung to the winds his business interests 
at Cincinnati, to accompany me in the last desperate effort to save a 
precious life ; who threw into that effort, regardless of time or cost, 
all the impulses of his ingenuous nature and all the energy of his 
mental acumen ; to Mr. Kercheval and his wife, who walked with 
me through that vale of tearless agony; to Mr. and Mrs. Graham, 
who in that deep gloom came into my life and have ever since 
remained my steadfast friends ; oh ! to all these, 1 and my family 
are in debt, and shall be forever and forever. 

Remember it, O children of my revered mother. 

Helissa C. Corbin. 

MIDWAY, KY. 



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